Households ‘facing up to £136 annual energy bill hike’ from next month

Household bills will rise by �136 a year from next month

Published:12:27Thursday 20 August 2015

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Many households are facing a shock rise in their energy bills in September, a price comparison site has warned.

A total of eight fixed-rate energy tariffs, including popular options from British Gas and EDF, are set to expire at the end of August, with customers automatically switched to their supplier’s standard rate tariff.

Most will see their bills rise by an average of £77 a year as a result, but others are facing a far bigger hike, according to Gocompare.com.

“Households in the East Midlands and who are on the EDF Energy Blue+Price Promise August 2015 tariff will be hit the hardest, with a huge £136.59 (13.62%) rise when they are automatically switched to the EDF Energy standard tariff,” it said in a release.

While the switch will be bad news for most, it noted that some British Gas and Sainsbury’s Energy customers may actually see their bills fall by up to £60 when their tariff ends.

The price comparison site recommends that all customers who find themselves on a standard tariff take the time to search for a cheaper deal online as this could slash their bills by up to £300.

Energy Saving Trust (EST) list of simple steps households can take to reduce their energy usage:

- Switch off standby

Save around £30 a year just by remembering to turn your appliances off standby mode.

- Don’t waste water

Using a bowl to wash up rather than a running tap can save £30 a year in energy bills, according to the EST.

Only filling the kettle with the amount you need will save a further £7, while reducing washing machine use by just one cycle per week will save £5.

- Spend less time in the shower

Spending one minute less in the shower each day will cut £10 off your energy bills each year, per person. With a water meter this will save a further £15 off annual water and sewerage bills.

- Turn off lights

An obvious one, but EST says many people are still not in the habit of turning lights off after use. Doing so will save you a further £15 on your annual energy bills.